Beatrice Mabel Cairo

Beatrice Mabel Cairo, 90, of Gloversville, passed away peacefully on Tuesday morning, March 12, 2013, under the very gentle care of the staff at Mountain Valley Hospice in Gloversville.

Born on the family farm in Dolgeville on May 15, 1922, she was the daughter of the late Wilson and Mabel (Wilson) Dodge.

Bea was a 1940 graduate of Dolgeville High School.

She graduated from Cobleskill College in 1942 with a degree in early childhood development.

She also enjoyed many activities while there, including playing the trumpet in band, playing women’s basketball, and meeting her future husband.

She frequently, and very fondly, referred to her time at Cobleskill as “the time of her life.”

On February 6, 1948, she married Ernest J. Cairo. They enjoyed 65 years of marriage until his passing on April 3, 2009.

Bea was the secretary at the North Main Street United Methodist Church in Gloversville from 1956 until her retirement in 1998, after over 42 years of faithful service to the congregation. Her steadfast dedication to the church continued well beyond retirement, including serving on various committees, assisting with the assembly of the church directory, assigning worship assistants for Sunday services, and much more. She was the heart and soul of the church for many years.

She was a member, and past Matron of the former Cayadutta Chapter No. 166 Order of the Eastern Star, and was a current member of St. Monica’s Chapter No. 486 in Johnstown. She was also a member of the Girl Scouts of America.

Bea was an avid New York Yankees baseball fan, and loved watching them (Derek Jeter, in particular) play. She made a number of trips with her daughter and grandson to watch the Yankees play, visiting both the old and new Yankee Stadium, and also in Baltimore. She never missed a game on TV.

One of her greatest joys was being outdoors in the warm sunshine, especially at the Great Sacandaga Lake. She spent countless weekends and summer afternoons at the camp on the lake with her family, and loved to swim every chance she got. She also loved bird watching, all manner of animals (particularly Pomeranians, her parakeets, and her cat, Tequila) plants and gardening, and was a dedicated fan of “Days of our Lives.”

She was a loving mother to her daughter, Nancy Estes of Broadalbin; and a proud grandmother to her grandson, Christian D. Weaver of Alexandria, Virginia. She is also survived by nieces, nephews and cousins.

Besides her husband, Beatrice was predeceased by her brothers, Ernest and Wilson Dodge.

A funeral service will be held at noon on Saturday, March 16, 2013, at the North Main Street United Methodist Church in Gloversville, with the Rev. Christopher Hamm officiating. Friends and relatives are invited to call one hour prior to the service from 11 a.m. until noon at church. Burial will take place in Prospect Hill Cemetery, Gloversville.

In keeping with Beatrice’s wishes, the family has asked everyone attending to wear bright and vibrant colored clothing at the service.